High schoolers practice for real world jobs

COSTA MESA — Some time in the future, Desiree Sanchez may have to feed thousands of wealthy restaurant patrons. On Thursday, she merely had to please four judges and a dozen classmates — but it was an intense enough experience.

The Orange Coast Middle College High School senior, who plans to attend the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena and become a seafood chef, joined the rest of her graduating class this year in researching careers in the community.

The seniors capped off their studies by making PowerPoint presentations in class Thursday morning.

Sanchez, who had never cooked dessert for a large group before, livened her report by fixing the Italian favorite tiramisu for everyone.

She didn’t know her grade yet, but by the end of class, all the dishes were cleaned.

“It was my first time,” Sanchez, 18, said. “I was a little nervous, but I think it came out great. I did try to make it pretty and presentable.”

The Middle College seniors, who take classes at Orange Coast College along with their high school coursework, covered a wide range of careers on Thursday morning.

To judge the presentations, the school appointed panels that consisted of teachers, parents, OCC representatives and members of the business community.

Bree Russell, 18, a page at the Newport Beach Public Library, shared the information she had gleaned from interviewing librarians. Pascal Simpkins, 17, talked about the work he had done this year for a Costa Mesa engineering company. Rejine Torres, 17, an aspiring kindergarten teacher, showed examples of classwork from an elementary school where she volunteered in Fountain Valley.

Her inspiration to work with children, she said, started at home.

“I have a little baby sister, and she’s really fun to take care of,” Rejine said.